So I've been using this app called pl@ntnet to ID different plants around my area and its working very well! Basically what you do is take pics of parts of plants and select an option from which part it is (leaves, flower, fruit.. ). Then it has a very nice algorythm that searches a database. The more pics from different parts you add, the better the recognition.
One of the interesting things about it is that users can contribute to the database. So if we could get together some high quality pics of different plant parts of our favourite ethnobotanicals, we could add to the database and have a very powerful app to help us. It can be pics we take, or just pics we find off the internet that are from confirmed sources (shouldnt be copyrighted pics)
The database already has several Acacias (baileyana, dealbata, farnesiana, karroo, longifolia, mearnsii, pycnantha, raddiana), Phalaris (aquatica, arundinacea, brachystachys, canariensis, coerulescens, minor, paradoxa), Passiflora(caerulea, edulis).
There was a thread recently about another app but some privacy concerns were raised (also it doesnt seem available to download in my location). In this pl@ntnet app, though, you can simply turn off your phone GPS, or you can manually edit the location on the plants when you take pics. Also no plant pics are sent to the database unless you choose to. And to register on the database to add contributions (which you dont have to if you just want to ID your plants and not upload new ones) you can use a fake name and email address and alter the location so there is no problem. I've also read the terms and conditions and nothing weird stood out.
I think it would be awesome if we could add all our ethnobotanicals of interest to this database, all it takes is gather a couple of good pictures of flowers, leaves, trunk and fruit/pods from each plant. I can even add it myself with my account if other people gather and organize these pics and send to me so I can upload.
By the way, it doesnt have a north america database but you can select any of the other databases, and plenty of plants are also in north america... and we can just add the ones we are interested in to any of these other databases and later use it even if you're in north america.
One of the interesting things about it is that users can contribute to the database. So if we could get together some high quality pics of different plant parts of our favourite ethnobotanicals, we could add to the database and have a very powerful app to help us. It can be pics we take, or just pics we find off the internet that are from confirmed sources (shouldnt be copyrighted pics)
The database already has several Acacias (baileyana, dealbata, farnesiana, karroo, longifolia, mearnsii, pycnantha, raddiana), Phalaris (aquatica, arundinacea, brachystachys, canariensis, coerulescens, minor, paradoxa), Passiflora(caerulea, edulis).
There was a thread recently about another app but some privacy concerns were raised (also it doesnt seem available to download in my location). In this pl@ntnet app, though, you can simply turn off your phone GPS, or you can manually edit the location on the plants when you take pics. Also no plant pics are sent to the database unless you choose to. And to register on the database to add contributions (which you dont have to if you just want to ID your plants and not upload new ones) you can use a fake name and email address and alter the location so there is no problem. I've also read the terms and conditions and nothing weird stood out.
I think it would be awesome if we could add all our ethnobotanicals of interest to this database, all it takes is gather a couple of good pictures of flowers, leaves, trunk and fruit/pods from each plant. I can even add it myself with my account if other people gather and organize these pics and send to me so I can upload.
By the way, it doesnt have a north america database but you can select any of the other databases, and plenty of plants are also in north america... and we can just add the ones we are interested in to any of these other databases and later use it even if you're in north america.
I read about this tech anecdotally 'in progress' elsewhere but seems to be gaining moar attention and improvements. Good way to proofread nature, so to speak. Particularly with any..*clears throat*.. alkaloids, and such. 